Daily devotional, 8 April 2024 Beyond depleted
"Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved."
Psalm 55:22
Heat exhaustion leaves most people feeling easily fatigued. Energy depletion is imminent as our body works double (or even triple time) to cool us. Add dehydration into the mix and some could even lose consciousness.
As mothers we often get to the point where we feel beyond depleted. We may feel physically tired, mentally drained, and even emotionally spent all at the same time. But as followers of Jesus we should take heart that we have a source of energy that could help us endure whatever hardship or difficulty we may face.
"He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted;but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint."
Isaiah 40:29-31
We should likewise remember that our God is the greatest comforter. He promises to strengthen us, and He has all the power to do so. He is omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent. Once we take into heart these characteristics of His, we can rest assured that no matter how we feel, no matter what we have done, and no matter how difficult our situation is, we can count on Him. Let us hold on to this verse found in the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
"Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand."
Isaiah 41:10
We should have faith that whatever it is that we are going through, all of these are part of God’s perfect plans for us. His promises are true, and His will in our life is all for the best.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Romans 8:28
As mothers we should also put in mind that God allows us to experience pain for a purpose. As a parent we are the source of comfort for our children and without experiencing pain ourselves it will be harder to empathize with our kids and to other people experiencing difficulties. Once we have gotten past our hurts through God’s grace, we can pass on the comfort and mercy that we have received from the Lord to others.
"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3
When faced with overwhelming physical and inner exhaustion, let us run towards Jesus. Let us allow His power to help us endure. Let us allow His spirit to help us see beyond the difficulties of life.
Practically speaking we can do this by continuously nourishing our relationship with Him. Regular quiet time of prayer and bible reading and reflection will help us recognize His voice more as we seek His comfort and direction for us. Weekly worship helps us show our love for Him. Fellowship with other believers and seeking Him alongside them allow us to demonstrate the Love He gave us, and be accountable for our actions.
Tapping into God’s power is the best way to regain our power when we are beyond depleted. There is nowhere for us to go but to Him so that we could boldly claim the comfort and strength He promised us.
Thank you for reading through our devotional today. I invite you to ponder on Isaiah 40:25-31 and Psalm 121 to dig deeper on today’s topic.
Reflection Question: Where do you draw strength from during times of hardship and difficulties?
Conversation with the Lord: Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for being my source of comfort and strength. I humbly ask that you continue to go before me my Lord, because you are my rock and refuge. Amen.